Timer



May 18 1926. 1,584,726

V. E. BRATTON TIMER Filed Feb- 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet z Patented v'iay i8, 1926.

lviseur: n. nne'rroiv, or rinvenuta, curro.

.Applicatirni led February 25, 19.25. Serial. No. l.

rAn importantobject ofthe'invention is to E provi-de :a timer having means associated therewith for supporting and retaining in alignment th e timer shaft.

A further Jbject of the invention is the provision of\ device of the above mentioned l character whereby `loosening and rattling ci:

'the timer slialit will be prevented.

, A still further object ot' the invention is theprovision of a timer ot' this character which is very durable in construction, simple and efiicicnt -for the purpose intended.

Other objects and advantages ot this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

l'n the accompanying drawings 'forming a.

part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the samen Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of an internal combustion engine showing my4 device associated therewith,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View" through my improved timer, .Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view et' an adjusting element used in connection with my improved device,

Figure i is a perspective View ot aV por tion of the same, and

lFigure 5 is a perspective view of the retaining clamp.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred enr bodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 generally indicates a portion 'of an inten' nal combustion engine having 'formed on one side Vjfiereof the usual breather pipe 1l. As clearly shown in Figure 2 the timer shaft 12 extends forwardly through the engine block and carries a contacting roller 13. 4r This roller is pivotally mounted in associetensi'fnibj,v7 means of a coiled spring le. 1 The roller 13 adapted to rotate in engagement with an annular ring l5 formed in the timer casing 16, providing means for the malte andbreak in the primary circuit by the contact points on this ring. yThe .contact pointorined inthe annular ring" connect with suitable binding posts 17 which extend W, through the casing and are connected With "la the conducting Wires 18.

The timer casing consists generally of a tion with the timer shaft .and retained under cylindrical body le) having one end enclosed bye substantially frustoconical projection 20. An internally threaded opening' is formed in this projection for receiving an oil cup 2l to permit lubrication or' the time ing mechanism. The upper portion of the casing carries a 'tl-shaped bracket 22 provided with aligned openings 23 permitting connection oli' an actuating rod 24. The timer casing is retained in an annular recess 25 formed in the forward extremity of the 'engine block by means of a suitable retain1 ing clump which contacts with the extremityot the casing and is secured by nieans et a holt 26 threadedly mounted in the upper' extremity of the breather pipe lll.

The timer-casing 16 is actuated through the medium of the rod Q4 and suitable operating" rneehanism`connectingvvith a spark levermountcd on the steering Wheel of the" vehicle, thereby advancing cr retarding the spark relative to the operation-ot the engine. f

The foregoing description has dealt generally with the usual construction ot a conventional type of internal combustion engine and timing mechanism, particularly used upon the Well known Ford type; autorn bile. Referring nonr more particularly to the structure comprising my invention, consider it advisable to employ a timer'cas ing which .mayl be of similar coniifniration to the conventional type ordinarily used upon this type ot engine, differing only in the provision ot a substantially heavier center piece 27 forming a durable collar provided in the centerfthereoi' with a screw threaded opening 2,8 an externally threaded bolt is adapted to threadedlyengage the opening 17:8 and extends substantially into the easing, the outer extremity therein-' beir ing machined to provide tiet projecting tongue 30 operable by means et Wrench or by the fingers. .The inner extremityof the bolt 29 is recessed te torre e socket adapted to retain therein a ball bearing ill. The outer portion oit the holt 29 adjacent the casing carries a lock nut 32 adaptedto retain the bolt 29 in adjusted position.

The usual casing retaining clamp dit; i1' replaced by an offset' clamp 33 ein suhstan tially heavier construction provided at one extremity .with en cpening adapted to engege the bolt 29 and at the other extremity with al slot 34 adapted to engage the breather bolt and be retainedA in position thereby. The conventional clamp 32 usuallyv em" 10thv lili) .ployed in connection with timers of this character may be utilized as a Wire guide to prevent the conducting Wires 18 becoming entangled With the cooling' fan, as plainly shown in Figure 1.

In operation, my improved timer is mounted in much the same manner as the type now commonly employed after which the bolt 29 is adjusted until the ball bearing 3l carried by the inner extremity is in contact with a suitable recess formed on the extremity of the timer shaft. rIhis adjustmen is preferably made by hand to prevent the connection being made too tightly.

The ball bearing mounted on the extremity of the said bolt will eliminate any apprecia-ble frictional Contact but Will be sufficient to retain the timer shaft in alignment. It is Well known by those familiar with this art that after appreciable usage the timer shaft becomes loose on its bearings and causes an undesirable rattling in the timer. In addition to this the uneven rotation of the timer shaft prevents proper timing of the motor and material Wear of the parts. These undesirable features are eliminated by my improved timer construction.

It is to be understood that the form of myl invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the same, and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without depart-ing from the spiritl of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

i. A device of the character described including a casing, a bolt threadedly mounted on one extremity ofthe easing,.anti-friction means mounted in one extremity of the bolt adapted to Contact with one extremity of the timer shaft, means for locking the said bolt in position, and means for retainin'g the said easing and bolt in position on an internal combustion engine.

2. In combination with a timing mechanism of an internal combustion engine comprising a rotatable timing shaft, contacting means carried by the said shaft, and an annular recess formed on the engine block, of a easing adapted to engage the annular recess,

'rying assenze a collar having a screwithreaded opening formed on the said easing, a bolt threadedly mounted through the said collar opening, an anti-friction bearing formed on the inner extremity of the said bolt adapted to Contact with the said timing shaft, means for adjusting the said bolt formed on the opposite extremity thereof, a lock nut carried by the bolt for locking same in adjusted position, and a clamp member adapted to retain the said easing in association With the internal combustion engine.

3. In combination with a timing mechanism including a timing shaft, contact means secured to and rotatable with the shaft, and a easing positioned about the shaft also oarcontacts; a screw threaded bolt threadedly mounted in the center of the casing in alignment with and adapted to Contact with the outer end of the shaft, antifrietion means mounted in the end of the bolt to reduce the frietional contact of the bolt and shaft, and locking means engageable vWith the outer end of the bolt for locking the same in set position so as to retain the shaft in true alignment. l

4. In combination with a timing mechamsm including a. timing shaft, Contact means fixed to and rotatable with the shaft, and a casing positioned about the shaft; of means for retaining the timing shaft in alignment including a bolt firmly secured to the easing and engageable with the outer end of the timing shaft, and anti-friction means mounted in the contacting end of the bolt to reduce the frictional contact of the bolt and shaft.

5. In combination with a timing mechanism including a rotary timing shaft, contact means carried by the shaft, and a casing f positioned over the shaft; of means for retaining the timing shaft in true alignment including a bolt firmly secured to the easing, anti-friction means mounted in the inner contacting end of the bolt, the said antifriction means being engageable with a reeessformed in the contacting end of the timing shaft, and means for longitudinally adjusting the said bolt.

In testimony whereof I a'llix my signature.

VIRGLia E. BRATTON. 

